Demountable tire-rim.



E. M. GSBORN'E. DEMOUMABLE TIRE mi. APPLIOA'HOH FILED HA3T27;":'?:8'.. ggg ggs, yamm may 5,1914.

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I y lnvenr Attorneys Witnesses V FRANK M. OSBORNE, 0F ANACONDA, MONTANA.

DEMOUNTABLE TIRE-RIM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1914.

.providea demountable tire rim embodying two duplicate or interchangeable sections and means for locking them together, so as to avoid right and left hand sections of different formation or construction, which not only increases the expense in manufacture, but also renders the assembling of the rim more diflicult, as will be apparent.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a two-part rim, and alocking ring for the parts, in connect-ion with means for expanding or spreading the locking ring into engagement with the parts of the rim.

A furthrgobject of the present invention is to provide a rim of the character indicated having means to accommodate the valve stem of the inner or inflatable tubev of the tire.

A further object of the invention is to provide means coiiperating with the valve stem for expanding or spreading the locking ring.

With the foregoing general objects outlined and with other objects in view, the present invention resides in the combination and arrangemento-f parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a side elevation or face View of an automobile wheel provided with the improved tire rim. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig.- 3 is a sectional detail taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmental perspective of the rim showing the valve stem of the inner or inflatable tube. Fig. 5 is a fragmental perspective of the wheel felly. Fig. I

6 is sectional detail taken on the line 66 of F g. 3. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the wedges for securing the rim on the felly. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the-gi wedge block for expanding locking ring. Fig. 9 is a fragmental view'of the rim lookmg toward the inner side.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 11 designates the fellyof the wheel which is usually constructed of'wood, and which has the metallic band 11 fitting tightly thereover.

The tire embodies the usual casing 12 hav ing the inner or inflatable tube 13, and the present improved demountable rim has been designated generally by the numeral 14. The rim is adapted to engage the beads of the casing 12 and is adapted to be mounted on the felly, as will hereinafter appear. It may be stated, at this point, that the rim may be fashioned to accommodate either the clencher or straight side form oftire outer or remote edges, and are provided with the inturned complementary flanges 17 at their inner or adjoining edges. As above indicated, the flanges 16 may be of any suit-- able formation or construction to accommo-. date either a clencher or straight side casing. The sections 1-5 are duplicates, or interchangeable, and may be readily pressed into shape in an easy' and inexpensive man-- ner, it being noted that only one set of dies,

or one machine, is necessary for the formation of both of the sections or parts of the rim. Particular attention is directed to the fact that in the formation of the duplicate rim sections, their adjoining edges are bent inwardly. to provide the flanges which are adapted to abut snugly against each other. The flanges 17 are adapted to abut against each other when the parts or the sections of the rim are assembled, and the said flanges are interrupted, broken or cut away at one point, as will be more clearly apparent by referencesin detail to Figs. 6 and 9. A

channel-shaped locking ring 18 is engageable Well with the flanges 17 the locking ring 18 being split and its ends being spaced apart so as to terminate adjoining the ends of the flanges 17. Between the ends of the flanges 17 and ends of the locking ring 18, the sections 15 of the rim are provided with complmnentary or cotiperating notches 19 in their inner or adjoining edges, providing an aperture or opening for the passage of the valve stem, as will hereinafter appear. At the sides of the notches 19 blocks 20 are welded, brazed or otherwise secured to the respective sections 15, the ends of-the blocks 20 tenninating adjoining the ends of the flanges 17 and locking ring 18.

The valve stem of the inner or inflatable tube 13 of the tire has been designated by the numeral 21, the same bein of usual construction, and having a washer or nut 22 adapted to seat or bear against the outer sides of the sections 15 of the rim adjoining the notches 19 or between the blocks 20.-

As above indicated, the valve stem 21 passes inwardly through the notches 19, the notches 19 accommodating the valve stem 21 when the sections of the rim fit together.

As a means for expanding or spreading the locking ring 18, there is provided a wedge block 23 having an. opening 24 therethrough loosely receiving the valve stem 21,,

the ends of the block 23 being beveled as at 25, so as to bear against the ends of the locking ring 18. The wedge block 23 is also provided with the; lips 26 cooperating with the beveled ends 25 and adapted to overlap the ends ofthe locking ring. A nut 27 is threaded on the valve stem 21 and is adapted to bear against the wedge block 23 so as to force the wedge block between the ends of the locking ring, and in order to permit the wedge block to be withdrawn from between the ends of the locking ring when it is desired to liberate the locking ring. i I

The telly 11 is provided with the usual opening or passage 28' for the valve stem 21,

and adjoining the opening 28, a'plurality of blocks 29 are secured to the telly. Two

pairs of blocks 29 are provided, the'respective pairs being spaced apart, and the blocks of each pair also being spaced apart, so that. the ends of the locking ring 18 may be re-' ceived between the blocks of the respective pairs, and inorder that the blocks 20 of the rim sections may be received between the respective blocks of the two pairs of blocks 29.

As a means for mounting or securing the rim on the wheel felly, there are provided a plurality of pairs of wedges 30. Each pair of wedges 30 rest against the felly, or band 11, and project toward each other with their butt ends remote from each other. The butt ends of the wedges are provided with the outstanding ribs 31, and are pro- 1 the vided with the inturned ears 32 overlapping the sides of the folly, The tips of the wedges 30 are adapted to engage under the locking ring-18, and the ribs 31 are adapted to engage the outer or remote edges of the rim sections, bolts 33 being passed through 34, and the nuts 35 of the bolts being disposed outermost so that the nuts may be readily removed for withdrawing the outer wedges 30.

When the relative parts. are assembled, the flanges 17 of the rim sections will abut against each other, and the notches 19 will accommodate the valve stem 21, the valve stem passing through the opening 28 in the telly so as to project inwardly, as seen clearly in Fig. 1, the lockingring 18 engaging the flanges 17 to retain the sections of the rim together, the wed e block 23 spreading or expanding the loc flanges 17. It is to be noted, that the ends '90 ng ring to retain it firmly in engagement with the of the locking ring will fit between the blocks 29 of the respective pair, thus assist- 'ing in preventing the lateral displacement of the rim, and the blocks 20 carried by the rim sections to fit between the respective blocks 29 of the two pairs, so as to constrain the rim against rotary movements on the telly, which might tend to shear or injure the valve stem 21. The wedges 30 in being secured in position by means of the bolts 32 will securely. lock the rim on the felly.

When it is desired to detach the tire from wheel, or ratherthe felly, the outer wedges 30 are withdrawn, which is permissible after the nuts 35 of the bolts 33 have been unscrewed and removed. After this has been done, the rim 14 may be readily withdrawn, and by unscrewing the nut'27, the wedge block 23 may be withdrawn from between the ends of the locking ring 18, and in which event, the locking ring 18 may be sprung out of engagement with the flanges 17; In this event, the rim sectionsare free to be spread with the beads or sides of the tire casing, so that the'inner or'inflatable tube may be withdrawn for purpose of repair or replacement. It will be apparent from the foregoing, that when the rim sections are spread apart with the beads or sides of the tire casing, the valve stem 21 will be liberated, as the notches 19 will be moved apart. Conversely, the inner or inflatable tube may be inserted into the casing through the rim sections which have been spread, and after the inflatable tube has been positioned within the casing, the rim sec- .tions may be brought together, with the fgether, the locking ring 18 may be sprung' (into engagement With the flanges 17, so that -strnction, asfwell' eflieient, serviceable and .the' ends of the locking ring and flanges may be properly positioned relativetoeach other, and in'this-event, thewedge'bloek 23 is forced betweenlthe ends ofitheillocking ring '18," by screwing or tightening :the nut 27, so that the locking ring will lie-expanded to effect a tight engagementf/witlithe flanges 17', seats to lock the rim sections together. Therim may then be readily applied to the felly, the valve stem" beinglgfii'st' passed through the opening 28 in thej'fe'l'ly, and the rim then being swung over f'the felly, as usual, to the proper )osit ion. The outer wedges 30 may then be positioned, and after engaging the nuts totheibolts 33, the Wedges 30 may be forced towardeach other so as to again secure the rim in 'tion on the telly, as above indicated. '5

' Particular attention isdirected to the fact that the riin sections are interchangeable,

,the entire device-bein symmetrical at. thesidesof themedi-an-p ane, so that the rim may be inserted inreversed positions on the felly," iv'vhich 'is -highly desirable. The pro entidevice is}alsoi'zomparatively simple, subst'a'ntial,v durable-Sand inexpensive in conconvenient i-i'riits use. i I v Having tl described the inventionjwhat f is claimed? as,,new, is

i 1 1( 'le rii onntable tire rim, tw o sections having complementary flanges along their ad oining edges, the flanges being interrupted at one point, and the adjoining edges of the sections being provided with complementary notchesbetiween the ends of the flanges, a split channel-shaped locking ring -engageable with the said flanges with its ends disposed adjoining the ends of the flanges, and awedge blockengageablebetween the ends of; the locking ring, and having an opening therein complementing the said notches. r 1

2. A demonntable tire rim embodying two sections having complementary intnrned flanges along their adjoining edges, the flanges being interrupted a'tjone point and the rim sections being provided with complementary notches in their adjoining edges between the ends of the flanges, a split channel-shaped locking ring engageable with the flanges with its endsdisposable adjoining the ends of the flanges, blocks secured to the respective rim'sections at the sides of the notches. and a wedge block insertible between the ends'of the locking ring and having an opening to cooperate with the notches. 1 r Y v in testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ZERANK M. 'osnoannl Witnesses: I i i 'Jorm HmLBEnG, JOHN JAMIE-IS. 

